W&M's graduation rate among nation's best

High graduation rateWilliam & Mary has maintained one of the best graduation rates in the nation, according to a report release this week by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Photo by Stephen Salpukas

William & Mary has maintained one of the best graduation
rates in the nation, according to a report release this week by The Chronicle
of Higher Education.

According to the analysis, which examined six years of
federal data ending in 2008 for nearly 1,400 institutions, William & Mary
has maintained the second highest graduation rate in the country among public
research institutions, ranging between 89 percent and 91 percent. The
University of Virginia has maintained the highest, ranging between 92 and 93
percent.

According to the Chronicle, the rate measures how many
full-time, first-time students who enroll in the fall complete degrees within
six years. The rates do not include data on students who transfer – either in
or out of an institution – and then complete a degree.

Following the two Virginia schools in the third and fourth
spots on the list of public research institutions are University of California,
Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles, both with rates in the
high 80s.

Among private research schools, Harvard and Yale took the
top spots, with rates in the high 90s.

The analysis also looked at schools in the categories of
public master’s, private master’s and private baccalaureate arts & sciences.

For a complete listing of the schools included in the
analysis, visit the Chronicle's website.